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Vanishing Acts

Missing his absent father, young Nino invents a phantom pet, but in the end finds a real friend.

By

Meghan Cox Gurdon

Oct. 2, 2015 4:44 p.m. ET

The aching hunger for an absent father provides the emotional propulsion in two very different but equally resonant books for young readers. The first is a picture book for 3- to 8-year-olds, “The Dog That Nino Didn’t Have” (Eerdmans, 34 pages, $17), which features illustrations by Anton Van Hertbruggen that have a harsh, wild edge to them. Edward Van de Vendel’s writing, though, feels buoyant and even droll, though we’re in no doubt as to the main character’s heartache. “Nino had a dog that he didn’t have,” the story begins....